Liquid displacement gas compressor



March 28, 1933. D. G, GRlswoLD 1,903,108

LQUID DISFLACEMENT GAS COMPRESSOR Filed Deo. 14, 1931 Patented Mar. 28, 1933 Y UNITED ls'lxxras PATENT OFFICE DONALD GRISWOLDK OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA LIQUID DISPLACEMVEN T GAS COMPRESSOR Application filed December'14, 19.31. VSerial No. 580,869.

This invention has to do with gas comcompressed gas in the upper portion of the pressors, and is more particularly related to chamber when the float reaches its maximum gas compressors of the so-cailed liquid dislevel. In a construction of this nature it placement type in whichA the compressing Will be seen that this compressed gas must action is derived through the displacement of expand until a pressure below atmospheric the gas in a suitable chamber by liquid under is obtained in the chamber before any free gas pressure. can be drawn into the chamber through the The gas compressor contemplated by this air inlet. In an eii'ort to obviate this eX- invention is especially adapted for use in pansion of compressed gas certain attempts maintaining a substantial air pocket in the hav@ been milde t0 PIOVdG llXlIy l OU- 60 upper portion of water supply reservoirs lets which are open whenthe float reaches such as are employed in connection with in tS IHHXHIUIB level OI the PUIPOSG 0f p1`- dividual 4 domestic Water softening units. mitting this compressed gasto exhaust into The invention is not,-however, confined to the atmosphere. It Will be S8611 that in Conf this particular use, but may find application StructiOnS of this nature Whether the device in compressingr air'or other gas where there S PIOVClCl'Wtll l-Il mXliary gas Outlet OI is 1.Y soiuge 0f Supply Commgngurate 110i?, there IS rl SUbSttIllllil lOSS lll GHCQIICY with the pressure to be obtained n the comdue t0 the Compressed gas in the compression pressed medium. chamber When the liquid reaches its maxi- I am aware of the fact that attempts have mum level. It therefore becomes one object 7o been made to produce gas compressors of the of my invention to produce a liquid disgeneral character referred to above. So far placement gas compressor which is so conas I am aware the general construction em- StrllCted that the compressing Chamber is c0111- ployed in these prior attempts comprises a pletely filled With liquid when the inlet valve Y shell forming a compressing chamber. This is closed and the outlet valve is opened. Purshell is provided with a Vgas inlet and a gas suant to the attainment of this object I prooutlet and with a liquid inlet and a. liquid outvide the compressing unit with two chambers, let. The liquid inlet and outlet are provided one of which I may term a main compressing with valve means associated with a float chamber and the other an auxiliary orgas mechanism, the valve being arranged so as to outlet chamber. A check valve is provided 8o be operated directly from the float. In other between these two chambers to permit words as the float rises to a predetermined the flow of air from the main chamber -into point in the chamber the inlet valve is closed the gas outlet chamber which is connected to P and the outlet valve is opened permitting the the vessel into which the compressed gas is 3 liquid to flow out of the chamber, thus loWerto be delivered. 85 ing the float to a predetermined low point at It is a further object of this invention to which the outlet valve is closed and the inlet provide a valve actuating mechanism which valve is opened. may be broadly describedas operating inde- Most of the attempts to produce a gas compendently 'of the floats in the compressor. y p pressor embodying the construction outlined The valve actuating mechanism does not opabove have failed due to the fact that where erate independently of the floats in that there the valves are operated directly from the is no relation between the floats and this float there is what may be termed a dead cenmechanism, but the relation is an indirect one. ter at which both the inlet and the outlet In otherwords, the actual mechanism which ports are open, thus permitting the free ciroperates the valve is merely controlled by the culation of liquid through the chamber withfloats, the valves themselves being operated out any displacement action. f by an independent mechanism. In this way Furthermore, in 'these prior devices Where I positively avoid the possibility of having a V5 a single float is employed for controlling the so-called dead center at any time in the opvalves there is always a certain amount of eration of the compressor, Where the two 10o vention.

valves may be closed or both valves may be partly open which would permit fre-e circulation of liquid through the chamber.

It is a further important feature of this invention that the valve operating mechanism is so constructed that the open valve closes before the closed valve is open, regardless of which valve is open. This also is important in avoiding the possibility of having the so-called dead center.

y The details in the construction of a preferred form of my invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be best understood from the following descripltion of the accompanying drawing which is chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section and partly broken away illustrating one preferred application of the device contemplated by this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the details in the construction of a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line 3 3 in Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the operation of a latch mechanism designed for use in connection with my invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the details in the construction of a preferred form of valve mechanism adapted for use in my invention Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken in a plane represented by the line 6-6 in Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken in a plane represented by the line 7-7 in Fig. 5;

Fig. S is a sectional view taken in a plane represented by the line 8-8 in Fig. 7

Figs. 9 and 9A are end elevations of the valve core looking in the direction of the arrow 7 7 and showing the manner in which this valve mechanism operates.

More particularly describing the invention as herein illustrated, reference numeral 11 indicates a storage tank which may be of the type ordinarily used in connection with domestic water softeners and it is well known that in tanks of this nature the operativeness of such tanks is dependent upon the maintenance of an air space in the upper end portion of the tank, and due to leaks and other means of losing air in tanks of this nature it is customary to provide a pump or compressor of some nature to maintain this space filled with air under pressure.

As pointed out above the device contemplated by this invention is especially designed to automatically maintain a predetermined quantity of air in the upper end portion of tanks of this nature and in Fig. 1 I show at 11a a preferred form of automatic air compressor of the type contemplated by this in- This compressing unit comprises a housing 12 provided with an air inlet 13, an air outlet 14 leading to the upper end portion of the tank 11, a liquid inlet 15 which is shown as being connected to an intermediate portion of the tank 11 below the liquid level therein, and a liquid outlet 1G. lt will be understood, of course, that the compressor contemplated by this invention is not necessarily confined to the particular application shown in Figure 1, but the air outlet may be connected to any suitable compressed air or compressed gas reservoir and the water or liquid inlet 15 may be connected to any suitable source of liquid supply such as a water main.

The details in the construction of the com pressor contemplated by this invention are best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 9A inclusive. Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the housing 12 is divided into a main compressing chamber 18 and a gas outlet chamber 19 by a partition member 20. For c-onvenience in construction, the chambers 13 and 19 may be formed in two separate units connected together by the flange connection indicated at 21 and the partition plate 2O may be interposed between the two ianges in the adjacent sections.

rlhe partition member 20 is provided with a check valve 22 adapted to permit the unidirectional iiow of air from the main compressing chamber into the gas outlet chamber and the air inlet 13 is necessarily provided with a check valve of any suitable type such as is indicated by reference numeral 23.

As a further convenience in the construction of this unit the water inlet and outlet 15 and 1G respectively may be connecten to a special inlet fitting 24 which in turn is connected to the central section of the housing through aflange connection 25 whichhas formed therein an inlet nose or chamber 26 provided with an opening 27 which receives a valve seat 28 upon which an inlet valve 29 is adapted to seat. rThe outlet pipe 1G is connected to a nipple 31 mounted in a suitable opening in the bottom of the flange 24, such nipple having a seat provided at its upper end adapted to receive an outlet valve 32. Both the inlet valve and the outlet valve are shown as being provided with guide stems 33, 34, 35 and 36 -on their upper and lower ends respectively.

For the purpose of mechanically operating these two valves I connect the lower stem 35 on the inlet valve and the upper stem 34E on the outlet valve to a lever member 10 by means of pivot pins 41 and 42, respectively. It will be noted that the lever member l0 is connected at one end portion to the stem 35, at an intermediate portion to the stem 3l and at its other end portion it is connected to an operating link @l1 which has its upper end pivotally connected to a link operating lever 42. Such lever L12 is pivoted in a notch 43 of a suitable housing lll which is shown as being mounted upon or formed with a diaphragm housing 45.

The diaphragm housing contains a flexible diaphragm 46 which is secured at its mid 5 portion to a reciprocable shaft or rod 47 extending through a spring compressed packing gland 48 into the housing 44. The upper end portion of this Vrod or shaft 47 projects into a guide pocket 50- formed in the lower end portion of standard 51 which is secured at its lower end to the housing 44. At an intermediate point on the rod 47 I provide lever engaging means such as a pair of flanges or bosses indicated by reference nu- 5 merals 52 and 58. These flanges extend over opposite sides of the inner end portion of the lever 42.

It will be seen from the construction so far described that when the rod or shaft 47 is drawn downwardly by the action of the diaphragm 46 the outer end of lever 42 will swing upwardly in the direction of the arrow A, carrying with it the link 41 which moves about its fulcrum on the stem 34 to close the inlet valve 29. The continued movement of this lever then opens the outlet valve 32 and permits the liquid in the main compressing chamber to drain. The opposite movement of the diaphragm, assuming t-he parts just referred to be in a position wherein the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is open, swings the lever 42 in the opposite direction so that the lever 40,

which now has its fulcrum on the valve stem 5 35, is elfective to close the outlet valve 34 and openthe inlet valve 35. Thus it will be seen that there is no possibility of having a dead center of a relative position of the valves in which both of them are open. 0 The diaphragm 46 is of course adapted to be operated by the action of a pressure fluid on one or the other sides of the diaphragm. Reference numeral indicates a connection for delivering pressure fluid to the upper side of the diaphragm housing and reference numeral 61 indicates a connection for delivering pressure fluid tothe lower side of theV diaphragm housing. The connections 6() and 61 lead to a four-way valve mechanism 62 which has an inlet 63 connected to the main liquid inlet chamber 26 or to any other suitable source of pressure fluid supply and an outlet connection 64 which is shown as being connected to the outlet nipple 37.

With regard to the four-way valve mechanism it will be understood that when one of the connections 60 or 61 is acting as an inlet for its associated side of the housing, the other conduit acts as an outlet for its corresponding side of the housing, and vice versa, so that when pressure fluid is being delivered through connection 60 into the upper side of the housing, the pressure fluid in the lower side of the housing is being forced out through the connection 61.` It will be seen,

therefore, that the opening and closing of the respective inlet and outlet valves 29 and 32 is indirectly controlled by the operation of the four-way valve 62.

In order to accomplish the operation of this last mentioned valve automatically with the filling and emptying of the main compressing chamber, I propose to operate the four-way valve by a float mechanism which in turn is actuated by the movement of the 'A liquid in the main compressing chamber.

This so-called float mechanism is shown as comprising a link which is pivotally attached at its lower end to a valve operating lever 71. (See Fig. 5.) The upper end of the link 70 is attached to an arm 72 which is secured tov a flange 7 3on the lowerV end of a sleeve 74 which is slidably mounted on the standard 51. The unner end of the sleeve 74 is provided with a cup member 75 which forms an outer shoulder 76 and an inner shoulder 77. WV hen the sleeve. is in its lowermost position it is held against upward movement relative to the standard 51 by a latch mechanism which is shown as comprising a pair of balls 78 and 78 positioned in suitable apertures formed on the upper end portion of' the standard and forced into the cup 75 so as to be engaged by the shoulder 77 by a pin 80.

A float 81 is slidably mounted on the sleeve 74 and the upper outlet chamber 19 is provided with a latch actuating float 82 which has a seat portion 83 adapted to set in a fitting 84. This float hason its upper end a guide pin 85 adapted Vto be received in a fixed sleeve 86 in the top of the outlet chamber and the lower end of the float is attached through the medium of a pin 87 and a flexible connection such as a chain 88, with the upper end of the pin 80. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown, it will be seen that liquid such as water under pressure is entering the main compressing chamber through the valve 29. As this liquid rises in the chamber the float 81 is forced upwardly into engagement with the shoulder 26. The latch mechanism, however, holds the sleeve and the float against further movement and the liquid continues to rise at the same time forcing the air in the main compressing chamber into the outlet chamber through the check valve 22. The flow of liquid continues until the liquid has completely displaced the air or gas in the main compressing chamber 18 and enters the outlet chamber 19 through the check valve 22 and the valve 83 on the lower end of the latch control float. As the liquid rises in the outlet chamber the float 82 is raised from the position shown, such upward movement being effective to lift the pin 80 upwardly to a position at which the balls 78 and 78 may move inwardly into-the transverse passage 77 in the standard, as shown in Fig. 4. This inward movement of the balls permits the float 81 to lift the sleeve 7 4 upwardly. The upward movement of the sleeve operates the four-way valve so that pressure fluid is admitted to the upper side of the diaphragm housing and exhausted from the lower side of such housing, permitting the diaphragm to move downwardly and close the inlet valve and open the outlet valve in the manner heretofore described.

Nhen the positions of the inlet and outlet valves are reversed the liquid in the main compressing chamber 18 flows outwardly and is displaced with atmospheric air which enters the main compressing chamber through the check valve 23. As the liquid level recedes the float or" course lowers and eventually engages the flange 73, the weight of the float being edective to move the sleeves and the arms 72 downwardly, thereby acting through the link to reverse the position of the four-way valve so that the positions of the valves 29 and 32 are again restored to 'that shown in Fig. 2 and the operation is reversed.

In a device of the character shown in Fig. 1 the operation just described continues automatically until the liquid level in the main tank 11 has been forced downwardly to the level of the upper latch control float 82.

It will be understood that in a device of this character the four-way valve 62 may be of any conventional type which can conveniently be arranged for operation with the other mechanism. In order to avoid dificulties in operation due to faulty operation of this valve, and further to provide a valve mechanism which occupies a minimum of space and is rapid and positive in operation, have developed a four-way valve, the details in the construction of which are best illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9A inclusive. This valve is shown as comprising a main housing which is connected with the pressure fluid inlet G3 and has inlet-outlet connections 00 and 61 which are adapted to be connected with the top and bottom portions of the diaphragm housing 45. The connections 60, 61 and 64e all lead inwardly into individual ducts indicated at 91, 92 and 93 which extend in substantially parallel relation through the housing to a fla-t bearing face 95 formed on an extending boX 96. Reference numeral 97 indicates a valve core housing which is mounted on the main housing 90 by means of screws 98 and contains a valve core member 97a which is mounted on an operating pin 98 and is held in sliding engagement with the bearing face 95 by a spring 99 which engages a collar 100 which is keyed to the stem 98. The outer end of the stem 98 is keyed to the operating lever 71 referred to above.

The valve core member is provided with a U-shaped passage 102l which has two outlets 10B and 104, the outlet 108 always being in registration with the duct 9.3 connected with the outlet passage Gi and the other opening 104 being adapted upon rotation ofthe plug to register alternately with the ducts 91 and 92, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 9A. In adition to the U-shaped passage the core member 97 is provided with a pair of spaced passages 105 and 106 each angularly spaced an equal distance away from the opening 104:. These passages extend clear through the core member into the portion of the fiting 97 below the core member which is provided with a pressure fluid inlet 108.

From Figure 9 it will be seen that when the two openings 103 and 104m the U-shaped duct are connected with the ducts 91 and 93 respectively, that the passage 106 is in register with the duct 92 and the passage 105 is of course closed. With the valve in this position pressure fiuid is flowing through passage 10G, duct 92 and pipe 61 into the lower side of the diaphragm housing l5, at the same time fluid is being exhausted from the diaphragm housing through pipe 60 into duct 92 from which it passes into opening 104 through the U-shaped duct out through opening 103 into duct 93 through which it enters the outlet passage 64.

When the valve core is rotated in the direction of the arrow B by the shaft 98 and its associated lever 71 to the position shown in Fig 9A, the outlet duct G4 is connected with the diaphragm connection 01 through the U- shaped passage and the duct 91 which leads to connection 60 is connected with the inlet pipe G3 through the passage 105. This last named position is the position from which pressure fluid will be delivered into the housing so as to bring about the closing of the main liquid inlet valve and the opening of the main liquid outlet valve 29 and 32, respectively. As a means for lubricating the bearing faces between the valve core and the boss on the housing7 the boss 110 is received as indicated at 110 and the valve core is provided with a passage 111 corresponding in shape to the recess and adapted to carry pressure fluid into engagement with a lubricating grease contained in the recess and passage. As pointed out above, various types of four-way valves may be used to control the delivery of pressure fluid to the outside diaphragm housing. l find, however, that the valve ust described has certain advantages in that it is quick and positive in its operation, it requires a very small movement to effect its operation, and it is small and compact so that it occupies a minimum space in the compressing chamber.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the compressor contemplated by this invention is so designed that there is a complete displacement of the air in the main compressing chamber, consequently there is no loss in efficiency due to the eXpansion of this air as the liquid in the main compressing chamber recedes or due to the exhaustion'of this air in order to avoid its eX- pansion. Furthermore, it will be observed that the valve mechanism is actuated by means which operate independently of the floats; the floats being provided solely for the purpose of controlling the mechanism which actuates the valve. in other `words there is an indirectaction here which positively prevents the occurrence of any dead centers in the valve mechanism. Furthermore, the means for operating the-valves is arranged so that the open valve is always closed beforethe closed valve is open.

It is to be understood that while I have herein described and illustrated one preferred form of my invention, the invention is not confined to the precise construction described above; but includes within its scope whatever changes, modiications, or arrangements that fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims. l

I claim as my invention:

l. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main con pressing chamber and an auxiliary float and outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; avliquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressing chamber; an air inlet in said main compressing chamber; valve means in said liquid inletand said liqid outlet; and float means in said chambers for controlling the actuation of said liquid inlet and said outlet valves.

2. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main compressing chamber and an auxiliary float and outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressing chamber; an air inlet in said main compressing chamber; valve means in said liquid inlet and said liquid outlet; valve operating means for closing the liquid inlet valve and opening the liquid outlet valve; and a Heat in said o-utlet chamber for actuating said valve operating means.

3. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main compressing chamber and an auxiliary outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; an air inlet in said main compressing chambe a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressing chamber; a valve in said liquid inlet; a valve in said liquid outlet;

V a pressure operated disphragm for alternately opening and closing said liquid inlet and outlet valves; and float operated means for controlling the movement of said diaphragm.

4. i gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main compressing chamber and an auxiliary outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; an air inlet in said main compressing chamber; a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressing chamber; a valve in said liquid inlet; a valve in said liquid outlet; a pressure operated diaphragm for alternately opening and closing said liquid inlet and outlet valves; means for alternately delivering pressure fluid te opposite sides of said diaphragm; valve means for controlling the delivery et said pressure duid; and a float actuated by the liquid in said housing for actuating said last mentioned valve means.

5. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main cempressing chamber and an' outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; an air inlet in said main compressing chamber; a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressingchamber; a valve in said liquid inlet; a valve in said liquid outlet; means for actuating said valves so that one valve is closed when the other valve is open; a float in said main compressing chamber; means associated with said iioat for controlling said valve actuating means; latch means in said chamber for `holding said float against upward movement; and a second lioat in said outlet chamber for releasing said latch means when liquid from said main chamber enters said outlet chamber.

k6. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main cempressing chamber and an outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; an air inl-et in said main` compressing chamber; a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said main compressing chamber; a valve in said liquid inlet; a valve in said liquid outlet; means for actuating said valves se that one valve is closed when the other valve is open; a stand;- ard in said main compressing chamber; a sleeve slidably mounted on said standard; latch means for holding said sleeve against movement on said standard; a ioat slidably mounted en said sleeve; stops on the ends of said sleeve adapted to be engaged by said float; a diaphragm housing; a diaphragm in said diaphragm housing; valve means for controlling the delivery of pressure fluid into opposite sides et said diaphragm housing; means attached to said sleeve for operating said last mentioned valve means; means actuated by said diaphragm for opening and closing the liquid inlet and outlet valves; a ioat in said outlet chamber; and means actuated by said last mentioned iioat for releasing said sleeve latching mechanism.

7. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main cempressing chamber and a gas outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; a liquid outlet and a liquid inlet in said main chamber; valves in said liquid inlet and eutlet; and means for actuating said valves so that one is open when the other is closed, saidactuating means comprising means independent of the liquid in said chamber for moving said valves and Heat means in said chamber for controlling said valve moving means.

8. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a liquid inlet, and a liquid outlet; valves in said liquid inlet and outlet; and means for actuating said valves so that one is open when the other is closed, said valve actuating means comprising a diaphragm housing, a pressure operated diaphragm in said diaphragm housing, a diaphragm control valve for governing the flow of pressure fluid into opposite sides of said diaphragm housing, lever means operated by said diaphragm for actuating said valves; and float means in said housing for operating said 'diaphragm control valve.

9. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a gas inl-et, a gas outlet, aliquid inlet, and a liquid outlet; valves in said liquid inlet and outlet; and means for actuating said valves so that one is open when the other is closed, said valve actuating means comprising a diaphragm.

housing, a pressure operated diaphragm in said diaphragm housing, a diaphragm control valve for governing the flow of pressure fluid into opposite sides of said diaphragm housing, lever means operated by said diaphragm for actuating said valves, a stan dard in said compressor housing, a float slidably mounted on said standard, latch means on said standard for limiting the upward movement of said iioat; means associated with said oat for operating said diaphragm control valve, and a latch control float in said chamber for releasing said float for upward movement when a predetermined quantity of liquid has entered said housing.

10. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet; valves in said liquid inlet and outlet; pressure operated diaphragm means for actuating said valves; a standard in said housing; a sleeve slidably mounted on said standard; a stop on the lower end of said sleeve; a cup formed on the upper end of said sleeve forming an outer shoulder and an inner shoulder; a float slidably mounted on said sleeve and adapted to engage the shoulders thereon; dogs in the upper end oi said standard; a pin slidably mounted in said standard for Jforcing said dogs into said cup to hold said sleeve against movement on said standard; a pin actuating float in the top of said chamber connected to said pin for releasing said dogs; and means attached to said sleeve for controlling the delivery of pressure fluid to said diaphragm means.

11. A gas compressor ofthe class described embodying: a housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in said housing; an inlet valve in said liquid inlet; an outlet valve in said liquid outlet; a stem on the bottom of said inlet valve; a stem on the top of said outlet valve; an operating link mechanism; a lever having one end portion pivoted to said operating link, and having its other end portion pivoted to said inlet valve stem and, an intermediate portion pivoted to said outlet valve stem, a pressure diaphragm unit; means for operating said link mechanism from said pressure diaphragm; valve means for controlling the delivery of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said diaphragm; and a float for actuating said last mentioned valve means.

l2. A gas compressor of the class described embodying: a housing having a main compressing chamber and an auxiliary float and outlet chamber; a check valve between said chambers; an air inlet in said main compressing chamber; a valve in said liquid inlet; a valve in said liquid outlet; valve operating means for closing the liquid inlet and opening the liquid outlet; and floatmeans in said housing for controlling the valve actuating means so that the inlet is closed and the outlet is opened when the liquid enters the gas outlet chamber, said float means including a loat in the gas outlet chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of November, 1931.

DONALD G. GRISVOLD. 

